Feeler-loom



M. L. STONE.

FEELER LOOM.

kPPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 5, 1919.

1 350, 1 2 1 Patented Aug. 17, 1920 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. L. STONE.

FEELER LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1919.

1,350, 121 Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inven or: M 85;

Atrry UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN L. STONE, 01E LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPO- RATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER-LOOM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MELVIN L. SroNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 'Feeler-Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. 7

This invention relates to feeler looms, wherein the feeler mechanism is employed to feel for the filling in the shuttle on each detecting beat, and when substantial exhaustion of filling is detected, the operative condition of the loom is changed, as for instance, by replenishment of filling.

In this general type of looms, the feeler member is mounted to enter the shuttle through a slot or opening formed in the front wall of the shuttle-box and adjacent wall of the shuttle. In order that the feeler member may perform its feeling function, it is necessary that it enter the slot or opening in the wall of the shuttle, but during the weaving operation the shuttle is not always properly boxed. Sometimes the shuttle 'will fully enter the box and then rebound, or it may fail to fully reach its properly boxed position. In either case, of course, the opening in the side wall of the shuttle is liable to not be presented for the entrance of the feeler member, and either no detection of the filling made, or as sometimes happens, the feeler mechanism itself or the shuttle may be injured.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in means for moving the feeler member into position 0pposite the opening or slot in the side of the shuttle when the latter has not been properly boxed. As a good practical means for carrying this feature of the invention into effect, a shuttle detector is mounted to feel for the shuttle on each detecting beat, and should it detect an improper positioning of the shuttle, to move the feeler member in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle or transverse of the loom into a position to enter the slot or opening in the shuttle as the lay moves frontwardly. Thus, even though the shuttle be not properly boxed on a detecting beat, the shuttle detector will ascertain this fact and move the feeler member into position to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed November 5. 1919. Serial No. 335,843.

perform its feeling function with respect to the improperly boxed shuttle.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view showing the detecting or feeler side of the loom and the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the present invention and its operation when the shuttle is improperly boxed;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detached detail partly in section, showing one good form of shuttle detector; and

Fig. is an enlarged cross sectional detail on the line 55 of F ig. 1.

The loom frame 1 may be of usual character adapted to support the operating parts. Mounted upon the front portion of the loom framework or breast beam 2 is the usual transverse or rock shaft 3 which is connected to a train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of filling when the filling in the shuttle becomes substantially exhausted. Connected to the rock shaft 1 is the arm 4 of usual character, on which is pivotally mounted the latch 5, the rear end portion 6 of which is adapted to be engaged by an operating member 7 when indication of substantial exhaustion of filling is made by the feeler mechanism. These parts may be of any general well known construction, and further detailed description thereof will be unnecessary.

The lay 8 has the usual shuttle-box 9 into which the shuttle 10 is picked. The front wall 11 of the shuttle-box is provided with an opening 12, and the adjacent wall 13 of the shuttle is provided with an opening or slot 14, the construction being such that when the shuttle is properly boxed, the slots or openings 12 or 14 in the wall of the shuttle-box and shuttle, substantially coincide and furnish a passageway for the entrance of a feeler or feeler member comprising a part of the feeler mechanism.

The present invention contemplates that any appropriate character of feeler mechanism and feeler member may be employed, and in the present instance, a usual and common form or type of feeler mechanism is illustrated, except as modified as hereinbefore described. The feeler member 15 -is mounted upon a feeler stand 16, and a spring 17 of usual character normally holds the feeler in its rearward feeling position, but

the openings of the shuttle-box and shuttle wall. When the filling is substantially exhausted, the feeler mechanism calls achange, and any desired type of mechanism may be employed for this purpose. In the present instance, the feeler member 15 has mounted thereon the rocker 17 having an engaging bunter 18 which is adapted to engage-either the shuttle or shuttle-box wall when the feeler member, due to substantial exhaustion of filling, enters the shuttle to a predetermined extent. Connected with the rocker 17 is the actuator 19, the front end of which is depressed against the spring actuated pin 20, and brought into operative relation with the transmitter 21 when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat. In the present instance, the transmitter or arm 21 is pivot-ally mounted at 22 (Fig. 1), and when moved frontwardly by the actuator 19, rocks the lever 23 by engagement with the portion 21- thereof and causes the latch 5 to be engaged by the operating member 7 and thereby effect replenishment of filling.

As has hereinbefore been stated, the feeler mechanism may be of any known character which will enter the shuttle on each detect= ing beat and detect the condition of the filling, the form of feeler mechanism shown and described being selected merely for illustrative purposes.

Inasmuch as the feeler member is to enter the slot or opening in the side wall of the shuttle, and the shuttle is liable to be in different positions in the, shuttle-box on a detecting beat, the present invention contemplates means for properly relating the. feelcr member and the shuttle, even though the shuttle itself may not be properly boxed, and thereby enable the feeler member to ij'eel into the shuttle for the filling.

' 'In the present embodiment of this feature of the invention, the feeler stand 16 is mounted upon the loom frame or a bracket 25 extending therefrom, for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle or transversely of the loom frame. As indi cated in thedrawings (Fig. 5), the .feeler stand is provided with a downwardly projecting lug or guide portion 26 which extends into the guideway 27 formed in the bracket 25, the construction being suchthat the feeler stand maybemoved 'bodily relative to the bracket 25 in a direction transversely of the loom, and since the feeler member is also ;mounted upon the. feeler stand, the feeler member will partake of such movement.

The feeler member 15 'is therefore,supported for entering the shuttle on each detecting beat by passing through I The feeler stand and feeler "member are normally under the influence of spring means such as the springs 28 normally acting to move the feeler stand into engagement with a stop which, in the present instance of the invention, consists of an upwardly extending flange 29 carried by the bracket 25. In the normal position of the feeler stand and feeler member as indicated in Figs. 1 and5, the feeler member 25 will normally enter the openings 12 and 14 in the shuttle-box and shuttle wall respectively on at detecting beat when the shuttle is properly boxed. Should, however, the shuttle fail to be properly boxed or should it re bound in the shuttle-box after engagement with the picker 30, the present invention contemplates that the feeler member be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, so that on the beat-up movement of the lay on a detecting beat, the feeler mem her will enter an opening in the side of the shuttle, notwithstanding the fact that the shuttle is not properly boxed. To effect the movement of the feeler member as just described, the present invention provides a shuttle-detector which, on each detecting beat will detect an improperly boxed shuttle and thereby cause the feeler member to be moved longitudinally of the shuttle into position to enter the opening or slot as the lay beats up. In the present instance of the invention, the detector consists of a finger 31 which is adapted to feel for the inner end of the shuttle on each detecting beat. To this end the front wall 11 of the shuttlebox is provided with an opening 32 through V endof the shuttle 10 and be moved by it.

Conncctionsbetween the shuttle detector and feeler member effect movement of the feeler 7 member in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle under the conditions lastnoted.

In the present instance of the invention, the shuttle detector 31 is mounted for sliding movement on the bearings 33 which may extend downwardly from the loom frame or shipper stand. 7

Pivotally mounted on the loom frame or shipper standat 3 11s the bell-crank lever 35 having connected thereto at 86 (Figs. 1 and l) 7 a rod' 37, the rear end portion'of which is telescopically associatedwith the shuttle detector. In the present instance, the rear end portion of the rod37 as at 38, extends into the tubular portion 39 of the shuttle detector, and a spring 40 is interposed between a head 4llon the'shuttle detector and a fixed collar 12 on the stem 37, the construction being such that frontward movement of the shuttle detector will effect frontward movement of the rod 37, and as the rod 37 has moved frontwardly to effect movement of the feeler member, and the feeler member has been moved its full limit longitudinally of the shuttle, the spring 11 will permit the shuttle detector to move frontwardly a further distance.

Connected to the bell-crank lever 35 is a link (Fig. 1), the other end of which'is connected at 14 with a lever 15 pivoted at 16 to the bracket 25. The rear end portion of the lever as is connected to the feeler stand 16. In the present instance of the invention, the rear end portion of the lever 45 is bifurcated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 417, and into the bifurcated end of the lever extends the pin 18 which projects downwardly from the feeler stand 16, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the construction being such that should the shuttle detector 31 be moved frontwardly on a detecting beat by engagement with an improperly boxed shuttle 10, as indicated in Fig. 2, it will, through the connections described with the feeler member, cause the feeler member to be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle into a position opposite the opening 14 in the shuttle wall, and consequently be en abled to perform its feeling function notwithstanding the improperly boxed or positioned shuttle. On the backward movement of the lay after the action last above described, the spring 28 retains the feeler member and the shuttle detector to their initial or original positions.

Since the shuttle detector is to detect the improperly boxed shuttle, and thereafter move the feeler member longitudinally into correlation with the opening in the shuttle, the shuttle detector is constructed to detect the improperly boxed shuttle prior to the feeling action of the feeler member. To this end the shuttle detector 31 extends rearwardly somewhat farther than the end of the feeler member, so that on beat-up movement, should the shuttle be not properly boxed, the shuttle detector will effect movement of the feeler member into proper feeling relation with the shuttle before the lay reaches a position in its frontward movement when the feeler member is to enter the opening in the shuttle.

That is claimed is 1. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler stand mounted for movement in a direction transversely of the loom, a feeler member movable with the feeler stand, a

shuttle detector constructed and arranged to be engaged and displaced by the shuttle as it moves frontwardly on a detecting beat, and connections between the shuttle detector and feeler stand for moving the latter transversely of the loom when, on a detecting beat, the shuttle detector finds the shuttle improperly boxed.

2. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler member, means for supporting the feeler member for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to properly position the feeler member relative to the shuttle when in the shuttle-box at the feeler side of the loom, a shuttle detector that is mounted to enter the shuttle-box on a detecting beat and engage the shuttle should the latter have rebounded in the shuttlebox, and connections between the feeler member and shuttle detector which cause the feeler member to be moved in a direction transversely of the loom into position to enter the shuttle when the shuttle detector is moved by the shuttle.

3. In a feeler loom, the combination of the lay and shuttle-box, a feeler member, a shuttle having an opening for the entrance of the feeler member, a shuttle detector that engages the shuttle on a detecting beat when the shuttle is not properly boxed and that is moved frontwardly by the push of the shuttle upon it, and connections between the shuttle detector and feeler member for effecting movement of the latter in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to properly relate the feeler and shuttle for entrance of the feeler through the opening of the shuttle.

4. In a feeler loom, the combination of the lay and shuttle-box, a feeler member, a shuttle having an opening for the entrance 100 of the feeler member, a shuttle detector which is moved frontwardly by impact with the shuttle when the latter is not properly boxed on a detecting beat, and connections between the shuttle detector and feeler mem- 106 her for causing movement of the feeler member in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle-box to position the feeler for entrance into the opening of the shuttle when the shuttle detector is moved.

5. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler member to enter the shuttle on a detecting beat and feel for the filling, means associated with the feeler member to cause a change in the loom operation when the fill- 115 ing is substantially exhausted, and a shuttle detector that is mounted to enter the shuttle box as the lay moves frontwardly on a de tecting beat and acting under the frontward impact of an improperly positioned shuttle 120 to move the feeler member into position to feel for the filling.

6. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler member, means for supporting the feeler member to enter the shuttle and feel 125 for the filling on a detecting beat, and means that is connected to the feeler and is actuated by the frontward push of the shuttle when the shuttle is not properly boxed for moving the feeler in a direction longitudi- 130 nally of the shuttle into a position to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling.

7. In a feeler loom, the combination of the lay and shuttle-box, a shuttle having an opening in a side wall, a feeler member, means for supporting the feeler member to feel for the filling in the shuttle, and means actuated by frontward impact of the shuttle when improperly boxed for moving the 'feeler member in a direction longitudinally v detector-for moving the feeler member into position to enter theshuttle and feel for the filling when the shuttle is not properly boxed.

9. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler member mounted-to enter the shuttle on each detecting. beat and-feel for the filling, a shuttle detector mounted to enter" the shuttle-box adjacent the entrance thereof and in advance. of the feeler and detect the position of the shuttle, and connections between the feeler member and shuttle detector for moving the feeler member into position to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling when the shuttle is not properly boxed.

10. In a feeler loom, the combination of the lay and shuttle-box, a feeler member, a shuttle having an opening for. the entrance of the feeler member, a shuttle detector that engages the shuttle on a detecting beat when the shuttle isnot properly boxed and that is moved fl'ontwardly as the lay heats up, and connections including. a lever between the shuttle detectorand feelermember for effecting movementof-the latter in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to properly relate the feeler and shuttle for entrance of the feeler through the opening of the shuttle.

11. In a feeler loom, the combination of a feeler member and ashuttle detector supported by the loom frame, one to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling, and the other to feel for the shuttle as the lay moves front- Wardly on a detecting beat, and means connecting: the feeler member and detectorfor moving the feelermember into position to enter the shuttle when the shuttle detector finds the shuttle improperly boxed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

. MELVIN L. STONE. 

